Automatic transfer switch responsive to serial communication message and power system including the same

1. A power system comprising: a first power source provided by a utility, wherein the utility generates a first message and a second message in response to a determination by the utility that load shedding in the power system is needed; a second power source; a number of loads; a smart utility meter coupled to the first power source, wherein the first message is configured for receipt by the smart utility meter, and wherein the smart utility meter has a processor and is structured to receive the first message and generate and transmit a third message based on and in response to the first message; and an automatic transfer switch comprising: a first input structured to receive power from the first power source, a second input structured to receive power from the second power source, an output coupled to the number of loads, wherein the number of loads are structured to be powered by the output using the first power source during a non-load shedding condition of the first power source and using the second power source during a load shedding condition of the first power source, a transfer mechanism structured to selectively electrically connect either the first power source to the output through the first input or the second power source to the output through the first input in a manner wherein at any time only one of the first input or the second input may be electrically connected to the output at any time, and a receiver, wherein the second message and the third message are configured for receipt by the receiver, wherein the receiver is structured to: (i) receive the second message from the utility and responsive to receiving the second message cause said transfer mechanism to electrically connect only said second input to the output, and (ii) receive the third message from the smart utility meter and responsive to receiving the third message cause said transfer mechanism to electrically connect only said second input to the output.

2. The power system of claim 1 wherein said first, second and third messages are each a load shed message; and wherein the receiver is further structured to receive a reapply message and cause said transfer mechanism to electrically connect only said first input to the output, the reapply message being one of (i) a first reapply message generated by the utility in response to a determination by the utility that load shedding in the power system is no longer needed, and (ii) a second reapply message generated by the utility meter based on and in response to the first reapply message.

3. The power system of claim 1 wherein said processor is structured to wirelessly communicate with said receiver.

4. The power system of claim 3 wherein said processor is further structured to wirelessly communicate with said receiver employing a predetermined wireless protocol.

5. The power system of claim 3 wherein said processor is structured to communicate with the utility employing one of a power line carrier communication and a wireless communication.

6. The power system of claim 1 wherein said utility comprises a server and an interface to a communication network; and wherein said receiver is structured to communicate with the communication network employing a wireless transceiver and a wireless router to cause the second message to be communicated to the receiver.

7. The power system of claim 6 wherein said server is structured to communicate with said receiver by employing a public network.

8. The power system of claim 1 wherein the output of said automatic transfer switch is coupled to a sub-panel for the number of leads, wherein the number of loads are a plurality of non-essential loads powered by said second power source when said receiver receives said second or third message and causes said transfer mechanism to electrically connect only said second input to the output.

9. The power system of claim 1 wherein said second power source is a standby generator; wherein said utility comprises a server; wherein said first, second and third messages are each a load shed message; wherein the receiver is structured to receive the second message from said server and responsively start said standby generator; and wherein the receiver is further structured to receive a reapply message from said server, responsively stop said standby generator and cause said transfer mechanism to electrically connect only said first input to the output.

10. The power system of claim 1 wherein said utility comprises a server; and wherein said first second and third messages are each a demand response load control message from said server.

11. The power system of claim 1 wherein the output of said automatic transfer switch is coupled to a sub-panel for the number of leads, wherein the number of loads are a plurality of non-essential loads powered by said second power source.

12. The power system of claim 11 wherein said plurality of non-essential loads powered by said second power source are predetermined by said automatic transfer switch; and wherein said automatic transfer switch is structured to enable said second power source responsive to said second and third messages.

13. The power system of claim 1 wherein said number of loads is a predetermined number of a larger plurality of loads.

14. The power system of claim 1 wherein said number of loads is all of a plurality of loads.

15. The power system of claim 1 wherein said second power source is selected from the group consisting of a generator, an uninterruptible power source, a solar power source, and a wind power source.

16. The power system of claim 10 wherein said server is structured to communicate with said receiver by employing one of an AMI network and a non-AMI network.

17. The power system of claim 10 wherein said server is structured to communicate with said receiver by employing a number of public and private networks.

18. The power system of claim 1 wherein said first second and third messages are each a demand response load control message.